Heater



Oct. 8; 1929. P .H HAMILTON 1,730,423

HEATER Filed Jan. 12 1927 Patented a. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. f

PAUL H. HAMILTON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE SANDS ING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO HEATER This invention relates to a heater for fluid, such as, water, more particularly of the storage type using a combustible medium for heating the fluid.

One object of the invention is to providean improved heater wherein all air supplied for primary and secondary combustion purposes is controlled toinsure eflicient operation of the heater.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- vide a heater of this type in which the air supplied for primary and secondary combustion is circulated and heated before combining with the combustible medium and mixture with the products of combustion.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fire box or chamber, burner and air supply to insure eflicient combustion of the combustible medium.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following (1)6- scription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a heater embodylng my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig 4 is a fragmentary view showing a different form of burner.

Fig. .In the drawings, fluid, such as water. erably of cylindrical shape. 2 indicates as an entirety a fire box or chamber disposed be- 1 indicates a tank for low the tank-1. The chamber 2 is provided by extendin the side wall 1 of the tank downwardly eyond'the bottom wall l thereof as shown at'2 and closing the lower end thereof by a base member of plate 3, to which reference will later be made. The tank 1 and chamber 2 are surrounded by a shell or casing. 4, preferably in spaced-relation to the walls 1, 2*". The casing 4 may also be provided with a top 4* disposed in spaced relation to the top 1-of the tank 1, the space between the walls 4-1 and 4 serving as a dead air space to prevent loss of heat by radiation. It will be understood that, if desired, this space may be filled with'any 5 is a section on the line 5-5 ofFig. 4.

The tank 1 is prefsuitable material which has a low co-eflicient of'heat conductivity.

5 indicates a pipe leading into the tank 1 (preferably through its top)"and terminating near its bottom, this pipe being connected with a suitable source of water supply. 6 indicates the outlet or dischar e pipe leading from the upper portion 0% the tank 1 (for example, being connected to a nipple 6 mounted in the top wall 1") and connected to the service system'of the building in which the heater is mounted. 7 indicates a drain pipe preferably mounted in the side wall 1 of the tank 1.

, 8 indicates a burner which. may be of any desired construction. In Fig. 1, the burner 8 comprisesa ring 8 having. a plurality of openings in its upper surface, or, as shown in Fig. 4,the burner may comprise a pipe 8 having aaplurality-of-nozzles. The burner 8 is mounted in operative relation to the bottom 1" substantiallycentrally thereof. The ring 8 (or pipe 8) is connected to a supply pipe 9 which leads through the side wall2. The pipe 9 supplies to the burner '8 a suitable combustible medium, such as natural or artificial gas. Flowof the gas through the pipe 9*may be automatically controlled by a suitable thermostatic mechanism 10, the thermostatic elements 10 of such mechanism ex- 3 tending into the tank 1, whereby the temperature of the water therein will be effective to actuate the thermostat mechanismand the latter to control a suitable valve, in a well known manner, to permit of or cut oif the flow of the gas through the pipe 9. The burner 8 may have associated with it a suitable pilot (not shown).

11 indicates a through the casing top 4. Theflue 11 is pr f- 5 I erablydisposed eccentrically of the'tank 1 (see Fig. 2) and its upper end may be left open or connected by piping to a chimney. 11 indicates a guide within and preferably extendingfrom end to end. of the ,flue'llg 10o MANUFACTUE- flue forcarrying off the product of combustion. The flue 11 preferably centrally of the fiue or (b) a film of cold air -around the inner Wall of the flue.

N 0 claim is made herein to the flue and the guide therein as the same will form the subject matter of a co-pending application.

12 indicates openings formed in the lower portion of the chamber 2 and substantially uniformly therearound. In the preferred form of construction the openings 12 are formed in the base member or plate 3 and disposed in concentric relation to the burner 8. As shown. the openings 12 are arranged outwardly of the burner 8 and preferably comprise elongated curved slots so as to be spaced an equal distance from the side wall 2 from end to end. As the chamber 2 is closed at all points except through the openings 12, all of the air required to provide combustion of the 'gas flowing from the jets or nozzles of the burner 8 and to support-the products of combustion flows therethrough. 13 indicates a guard associated with each opening 12 and arranged to prevent the air from flowing directly upwardly and to direct it outwardly against the side wall so that it may flow in a circuitous path to the burner 8 and flue 11. Each guard 13 preferably comprises an upstanding wall 13 disposed along the inner side edge of the adjacent opening 12 and a wall 13 extending substantially outwardly from the upper edge of the wall 13 over the'opening and preferably to a point beyond the opposite or outer side edge thereof. -As shown, the burner 8 is mounted in the upper portion of the chamber 2 and the openings 12 are, in the preferred form of construction, formed in the base member or bottom plate 3, this arrangement providing for the maximum travel of the air within the fire chamber before combining with the gas to ellectcombustion and the products of combustion, so as to insure its preheating. Due to the heat rising in the flue 11, a relatively large volume of air is drawn in through the openings to support the primary and secondary combustion. If this air came into immediate or substantially immediate contactwith the gas and products of combustion loss of heat would result. In my construction, I arrange.- the air inlet openings in a uniform manner around and relativel y close to the side walls of the fire chamher and provide each opening with a guard, closed along or on its inner side, so that the air will be directed outwardly against the side wall. The air will then flow upwardly along the side wall until it engages the bot. tom of the tank which deflects the air inwardly toward the burner. As the air, flows through this path, it becomes pre-heated from the heat radiating from the burner and Walls of the chamber 2, with the result that more complete combustion takes place and the products of combustion attain their maxi.- mum heat or temperature. In this arra ement it will be noted that the air admitt d to the chamber 2 circulates upwardly adjacent the side wall of the chamber; this tends to induce a circulation of all air below the burner and centrally of the chamber downwardly toward the base member, then outwardly and then upwardly with the air drawn in through the openings, so that those portions of the air inthe chamber not utilized to support combustion are kept in circulation so as to more effectively mix with and heat the cold air drawn in through the openings 12.

The sidewall 2 of the chamber and casing 4 are formed wtih openings closed by a suitable door 14, whereby access to the burner 8 is provided for.

The base member3 may be provided with concentric lip-standing flanges or ribs to Which the lower ends of the walls 2 and casing 4 are secured, respectively, preferably in an air or gas tight manner; and the base member may be provided with suitable legs 15.

In my preferred form of construction and as illustrated herein, I use a burner of the atmospheric type. that is, one in which no air is introduced in and mixed with the combustible medium before combustion takes place. 7

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves without departing from the'spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

'1. In a heater, the combination of a fire chamber having an annular side and a bottom, an atmospheric burner in the upper portion of said chamber and centrally thereof, and means for supplying air to effect primary and secondary combustion, said means comprising a series of openings each closed along its inner side by an upstanding wall and a guard carried by the latter and extending over the opening.

2. In a heater, the combination of a fire chamber comprising a wall to be heated, an annular side connected thereto and a bottom connected to said side, an atmospheric burner disposed centrally within said chamber in spaced relation to said well and biittom, a flue leading through said wall in eccentric relation to the burner in said chamber, said bottom being formed with uniformly spaced, elongated openings disposed outwardly of said burner and each curved (m an are concentric to said side, and means associated with each of said openings for deflecting the air laterally against the side to induce air eurrents in saidchamber and a mixing of the air within the chamber and the incoming air to heat the latter while flowing toward the burner.

3. In a heater, the combination of a fire chamber having sides and a bottom, an atmospheric burner disposed centrally within said chamber in spaced relation to said sides and bottom, a flue leading from said chamber, said bottombeing formed with uniformly spaced, elongated air inlet openings in symmetrical relation to said burner and sides, and

means associated with each of said openings for deflecting the air laterally against a side to induce air currents in said chamber and a mixing of the air therewithin and the incommg air.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

PAUL H. HAMILTON. 

